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Most well known bassists?

T

TheJacoBaco

Mar 31, 2013
8
0
29
Lapeer, Michigan
#1
Hey guys, can you list off some names of famous, well known bassists who have a signature style?

I want to try to learn kinda theory-wise what they are like and what kinda techniques they use and such. I want to do this so I can imitate their style if I was ever asked to play a "Flea bass line" or whatever. (I want to work as a session musician, among other things). And I'm looking to define my own sound as well. Thanks!
 
#2
Jaco - Get a fretless and unleash those harmonics!

Steve Harris - Get the meanest sounding P-bass you can afford, throw on some flats and play triplets as precise as possible

Sid Viscious - Buy a bass and have someone else play it for you

Fieldy - Buy a 5 string bass, detune the hell out of it and just randomly smack it :D
 
#3
El Raro said:
Jaco - Get a fretless and unleash those harmonics!

Steve Harris - Get the meanest sounding P-bass you can afford, throw on some flats and play triplets as precise as possible

Sid Viscious - Buy a bass and have someone else play it for you

Fieldy - Buy a 5 string bass, detune the hell out of it and just randomly smack it :D
Click to expand...

Thanks! Haha at least for The first two suggestions hahaha :p
 
#4
John Entwistle - Steel rounds, bright and trebly sound. Percussive playing towards the neck, often using three or four fingers in conjunction. Frequent use of the pentatonic scales. "Typewriter technique" (tap strings just above the fretboard so they ping off).

Cliff Burton - largely you'll want to follow the guitars, but keep an eye out for times when you can throw an odd fill or counterpoint in to the guitar melody. Rounds, heavy overdrive, heavy fingerstyle attack.
 
#9
You can learn a lot from a lot of different players because they have different takes on what their job is in a composition.
For just bass playing 101 "Find the pocket, groove, and don't make a fuss" you can't go wrong with James Jamerson. The guy played some of the best, unobtrusive, bass lines on famous songs you would never know he was the bass player on. Since 90% of the music world doesn't want to actually hear the bass, or have it take up too much space in the composition, this is a good place to start.

At the other end of the spectrum you have Victor Wooten who's approach to the bass is to see it as a complete instrument capable of grove, harmony and leads. He uses nearly every technique you can think of, and in my opinion, does an excellent job of transitioning from simple finger groves, to slap happy melodies. Plus his approach to music in general is so, for the lack of a better word, happy. His love for music and playing shines through in what he does.

In terms of other styles, you have to narrow it down a little to a certain focus. What will work in a country band will not work in a jazz band, and what works in a jazz band won't work in a heavy rock band. Within each genre you will find many unique styles to look into.
 
#15
Steve Swallow
Tony Levin
Abe Laboriel(sr.)
Matthew Garrison
Anthony Jackson
Marcus Miller
Skuli Sverrisson
James Jamerson
Jaco Pastorius
Stanley Clarke
Victor Wooten
Carles Benavent

Are those that come to mind first...t least to mine :)
 
#16
El Raro said:
Jaco - Get a fretless and unleash those harmonics!

Steve Harris - Get the meanest sounding P-bass you can afford, throw on some flats and play triplets as precise as possible

Sid Viscious - Buy a bass and have someone else play it for you

Fieldy - Buy a 5 string bass, detune the hell out of it and just randomly smack it :D
Click to expand...

James Jamerson - get a P-bass, put on the most old, dead sounding strings you can, roll the tone knob all the way off, put a piece of foam under the strings by the bridge, and play really really well with only 1 finger!
 
#17
Kmonk said:
John Enwistle
Paul McCartney
Jack Bruce
Boz Burrell
Jaco Pastorius
James Jamerson
Click to expand...

Great list there.

I'd add Squire and Levin and Pino to that list. Maybe McVie if you include Fleetwood as a package. Played so long together they were tight to the extreme.
And finally Graham Maby as a fantastic pick-player. Played for Joe Jackson forever. Not "well known" but a style from which you could learn a ton.
 

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